MARCH
2006
MOROCCO-Agadir
MOROCCO-Agadir
Wednesday 1st a
day of rest
at the best site yet in Morocco, sunshine all day. Howard’s cold
is improving slowly. Howard managed to phone England by local
phone, only to find on his return to the van that his mobile was now
working. The previous washing days were also unnecessary as the
site had a working laundrette. Thursday we travelled on to
Tiznit, again in brilliant sunshine. Friday we continued south
to Tantan Plage, a site on the seashore, no facilities, just a guardian
to help us park correctly and charge 70p. A peaceful night
followed for us and the other twelve caravans, only the waves on the
shore could be heard.
Saturday 4th we started our return north, the girlish spring colours of the desert had to be seen to be believed, a variety of reds, pinks, oranges, greens (undergrowth), lilacs mauves and whites. The final 10km were off road, on a well defined, if bumpy, dirt road to a motel, restaurant and camp. An old French Foreign Legion Fort and Casbar was situated 1km away from the camp. We visited them and were fascinated by them. A delicious meal of couscous with meat was supplied by
the restaurant. Sunday dawned and the
return to the paved road took 35min. On a narrow section of the
track a
van speeding in the opposite direction threw up several
stones one of which chipped the windscreen, the chip spread across
the screen. We returned to the same camp in Tiznit, to the same
plot. Monday
before we left Tisnit we went shopping in the Medina and then to the
supermarket, we parked in an empty square. When we returned to
the
caravan we found a policeman and a soldier waiting for us, we were in
an unsigned, no parking area. We then drove on to Tafraout to
find a two week old camp, HOT SHOWERS!!!, just 2km short of
Tarraout. Tuesday
night’s stop was at Taroudannt at a site on the roadside, outside the
Medina. The roads on these last two days were narrow, two lanes
but only the width of our van and oncoming lorries. Luckily there
was 2ft of stony, hard shoulder. Wednesday morning we
decided to return westwards to Agadir to sort out the
windscreen. Four hours later we passed eastwards through
Taroudannt, we discovered Iveco in Agadir was no more.
On to
Taliouine to find a picturesque site behind a hotel, we were back in
the
hills. The ready to cook chicken bought, wrapped, in a
supermarket smelt delicious. Thursday the chicken was
delicious!!! The stop that night was at Agdz (spelt correctly) in
semi-desert, still in sunshine. Friday saw us on our way to
Zagora, the flora decreasing slowly although the mountains are still
green. We continued on 24km to visit some sand dunes, we were not
impressed. The camps are reasonable, but not up to European
standards.
Saturday 11th on to Ouarzazate over steep, narrow roads, keep your eyes shut. Sunday we found a supermarket and an internet café, we proceeded on to El Kelaa M’gouna, a good camp and the sun was still shining. Monday the site is as good as it looks, hot showers, peace and quiet, with sunshine as a bonus. Howard tried to mend the insect screen on the roof light, without success, the return spring was broken. We relaxed for the rest of the day. Tuesday Howard had a go at the water system, no luck. The shower starts hot and then turns very cold. Wednesday at 0100 Mervyn called Howard, he was not feeling well, this necessitated a trip to the local hospital, organised by our hotel's receptionist. An injection was given at the hospital, and the local pharmacist woken up for medicine before we returned to camp at 0300 to complete the night’s rest. The diagnosis was something he ate or too much sun. Instead of moving on as planned we tok another rest day. Thursday we visited the hotel to pay our bill and thank the receptionist, then continued on to Tinerhir. We couldn’t find the camp we wanted, so we continued on to Goulimima where Howard ate a excellent meal of kebabs and Moroccan salad, in the restaurant. Mervyn was still not feeling 100%. Friday we took a minor road to connect with the road we had intended to take the previous afternoon. A washed out bridge caused a detour on a stony track across a dry river bed. We continued on to Erfoud, then went south via Rossani to get to Erg Chebbi at Merzouga, through a minor sandstorm.
Saturday 18th was not so windy and we walked out onto the dunes, an interesting experience. We drove north to camp at N’zala an endangered species park, no electricity and no animals, except many Ostriches. Sunday north to Ifrane, a change of scenery and weather, less desert and less heat. Early Monday Howard set off in a taxi to go skiing at Mischliffen, having been assured that there was snow there. There wasn’t!! He returned to the camp and we set off to Meknes. It was a short day with thunder, heavy rain and hail in a late afternoon storm, and floods on the campsite. Tuesday in better weather we set off for Larache and arrived early in the afternoon to a crowded camp, no water, no electricity, no charge. Wednesday a visit to Lixus on the way to Martil, where we were greeted by sunshine. We ate in the camp restaurant, Howard’s meal was OK, but Mervyn was not impressed by his meal. Thursday we left early to catch the 1045 ferry, we missed it as Spain (Ceuta) is plus one hour on Morocco. The 1345 ferry delivered us to Algeciras, and then we went on to Tarifa, via the Iveco garage where we ordered an electrically heated windscreen. We were told to be at the garage by 1100. Friday we arrived there at1030, the windscreen arrived at 1230. Then the fitters broke it while fitting it. Another, non electric, windscreen was found and was in place by 1420, but the van was not driveable before1800. We drove back to Tarifa.
Saturday 25th dawned fine and sunny, we drove east and north to Cordoba. During the night Mervyn had suffered from an upset stomach. Sunday and Monday we rested. Tuesday we set off to visit Cordoba where we saw a gateway, an old house, a Synagogue, The Alcazar, a Cathedral built in a Muslim Mosque, a museum, The Meziqta, a Moslem waterwheel, a Roman bridge and a Temple. Wednesday we visited Medina Azahara and travelled on to a nonexistent camp, this necessitated another 100km to find a camp at Penascosa. Thursday we travelled on a long Autopista followed by 56km of twisty hairpin bends and 30km of good roads to Javea. Friday was declared a rest day visiting our friend Ann.
Saturday 4th we started our return north, the girlish spring colours of the desert had to be seen to be believed, a variety of reds, pinks, oranges, greens (undergrowth), lilacs mauves and whites. The final 10km were off road, on a well defined, if bumpy, dirt road to a motel, restaurant and camp. An old French Foreign Legion Fort and Casbar was situated 1km away from the camp. We visited them and were fascinated by them. A delicious meal of couscous with meat was supplied by
the restaurant. Sunday dawned and the
return to the paved road took 35min. On a narrow section of the
track a
van speeding in the opposite direction threw up several
stones one of which chipped the windscreen, the chip spread across
the screen. We returned to the same camp in Tiznit, to the same
plot. Monday
before we left Tisnit we went shopping in the Medina and then to the
supermarket, we parked in an empty square. When we returned to
the
caravan we found a policeman and a soldier waiting for us, we were in
an unsigned, no parking area. We then drove on to Tafraout to
find a two week old camp, HOT SHOWERS!!!, just 2km short of
Tarraout. Tuesday
night’s stop was at Taroudannt at a site on the roadside, outside the
Medina. The roads on these last two days were narrow, two lanes
but only the width of our van and oncoming lorries. Luckily there
was 2ft of stony, hard shoulder. Wednesday morning we
decided to return westwards to Agadir to sort out the
windscreen. Four hours later we passed eastwards through
Taroudannt, we discovered Iveco in Agadir was no more. On to
Taliouine to find a picturesque site behind a hotel, we were back in
the
hills. The ready to cook chicken bought, wrapped, in a
supermarket smelt delicious. Thursday the chicken was
delicious!!! The stop that night was at Agdz (spelt correctly) in
semi-desert, still in sunshine. Friday saw us on our way to
Zagora, the flora decreasing slowly although the mountains are still
green. We continued on 24km to visit some sand dunes, we were not
impressed. The camps are reasonable, but not up to European
standards.Saturday 11th on to Ouarzazate over steep, narrow roads, keep your eyes shut. Sunday we found a supermarket and an internet café, we proceeded on to El Kelaa M’gouna, a good camp and the sun was still shining. Monday the site is as good as it looks, hot showers, peace and quiet, with sunshine as a bonus. Howard tried to mend the insect screen on the roof light, without success, the return spring was broken. We relaxed for the rest of the day. Tuesday Howard had a go at the water system, no luck. The shower starts hot and then turns very cold. Wednesday at 0100 Mervyn called Howard, he was not feeling well, this necessitated a trip to the local hospital, organised by our hotel's receptionist. An injection was given at the hospital, and the local pharmacist woken up for medicine before we returned to camp at 0300 to complete the night’s rest. The diagnosis was something he ate or too much sun. Instead of moving on as planned we tok another rest day. Thursday we visited the hotel to pay our bill and thank the receptionist, then continued on to Tinerhir. We couldn’t find the camp we wanted, so we continued on to Goulimima where Howard ate a excellent meal of kebabs and Moroccan salad, in the restaurant. Mervyn was still not feeling 100%. Friday we took a minor road to connect with the road we had intended to take the previous afternoon. A washed out bridge caused a detour on a stony track across a dry river bed. We continued on to Erfoud, then went south via Rossani to get to Erg Chebbi at Merzouga, through a minor sandstorm.
Saturday 18th was not so windy and we walked out onto the dunes, an interesting experience. We drove north to camp at N’zala an endangered species park, no electricity and no animals, except many Ostriches. Sunday north to Ifrane, a change of scenery and weather, less desert and less heat. Early Monday Howard set off in a taxi to go skiing at Mischliffen, having been assured that there was snow there. There wasn’t!! He returned to the camp and we set off to Meknes. It was a short day with thunder, heavy rain and hail in a late afternoon storm, and floods on the campsite. Tuesday in better weather we set off for Larache and arrived early in the afternoon to a crowded camp, no water, no electricity, no charge. Wednesday a visit to Lixus on the way to Martil, where we were greeted by sunshine. We ate in the camp restaurant, Howard’s meal was OK, but Mervyn was not impressed by his meal. Thursday we left early to catch the 1045 ferry, we missed it as Spain (Ceuta) is plus one hour on Morocco. The 1345 ferry delivered us to Algeciras, and then we went on to Tarifa, via the Iveco garage where we ordered an electrically heated windscreen. We were told to be at the garage by 1100. Friday we arrived there at1030, the windscreen arrived at 1230. Then the fitters broke it while fitting it. Another, non electric, windscreen was found and was in place by 1420, but the van was not driveable before1800. We drove back to Tarifa.
Saturday 25th dawned fine and sunny, we drove east and north to Cordoba. During the night Mervyn had suffered from an upset stomach. Sunday and Monday we rested. Tuesday we set off to visit Cordoba where we saw a gateway, an old house, a Synagogue, The Alcazar, a Cathedral built in a Muslim Mosque, a museum, The Meziqta, a Moslem waterwheel, a Roman bridge and a Temple. Wednesday we visited Medina Azahara and travelled on to a nonexistent camp, this necessitated another 100km to find a camp at Penascosa. Thursday we travelled on a long Autopista followed by 56km of twisty hairpin bends and 30km of good roads to Javea. Friday was declared a rest day visiting our friend Ann.
SPAIN-Javea